MTA employee fatally struck while crossing a Queens street

Distraught family and friends mourned the loss of a veteran MTA worker struck and killed by a 73-year-old driver while walking home from work in Queens.

Karina Larino, 38, was outside the crosswalk when a 2005

Honda Element driven by the woman slammed into her about 10:10 p.m. on Friday at Astoria Park South and 21st St., police said.

A family member said the victim, mother to a 20-year-old, was only a half block from home when struck by the car making a turn at the intersection.

“Oh my God, she and her daughter,” said friend Ramona

Madran, 49, who bust into tears Saturday after learning of Larino’s death. “I’ve known her for eight years.”

Beauty salon owner Madran recalled her frequent chats with the victim outside her neighborhood business, right next door to the home shared by Larino and her daughter.

“I talked with them outside just a few weeks ago,” she said.

Police responding to a 911 call at the location arrived to find the victim lying on the street with head and body trauma.

Larino was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital Center. According to police, the victim was walking outside the marked crosswalk when struck.

“We only know she was coming from work,” said Larino’s cousin Manuela Fernandez. “A car turned and hit her . ... She worked for the MTA as a cleaner for 15 years.”

The grief-stricken Fernandez, after breaking the news to Larino’s parents, was too overwhelmed to say anything more.

The driver remained at the scene and the NYPD highway district collision investigation squad was looking into the fatal incident.